This story might not be true but it certainly FEELS true. It feels like this story got the essence of Beyonce. Considering that Beyonce acknowledges that she has a complete, working archive of all things Beyonce, plus archivists, “visual directors” and photographers on call to document her every pose, expression, thought, movement and empowered fart. So what happens when Beyonce visits one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramids at Giza, in Egypt? Beyonce thought she could control the situation (allegedly), and she ended up being banned!

She may be one of the most famous people on the planet, but Beyonce was no match for Egypt’s “Indiana Jones”.

The singer was stopped from seeing the Pyramids because she kept renowned archaeologist Zahi Hawass waiting and refused to apologize, he has revealed.

“Most people I take on tours are very nice and we become friends. But this lady…,” Hawass, the former Egyptian Minister of State for Antiquities, told The Independent newspaper.

“She said she would come at 3 p.m. but she came late. I said ‘You have to say I’m sorry I’m late’. But she didn’t open her mouth. I brought a photographer and she also had a photographer and a guard. When my photographer started to shoot, he said ‘No, Stop! I am the one who says yes or no, not you.’ I said ‘In that case since you almost hit my photographer and you are not polite — out! I am not giving you the privilege of having you on my tour.’ I said Beyoncé was stupid and I left,” he told the newspaper. Hawass lost his job during the uprising in Egypt in 2011.

He has been accused of corruption over the alleged smuggling of antiquities.

A lot of people have been accused of antiquities smuggling over the past ten years especially. Maybe he’s guilty of it, maybe not. I have no idea. But the Iraq War plus the Syrian civil war plus about a million other conflicts have meant a boon in antiquities smuggling in the past decade. As for the Beyonce story… it just feels truthy. I can see Beyonce trying to dictate her terms to the peasants while visiting one of the most famous historical sites in the world.

Once i saw on an Italian TV a documentary with this man and a female journalist. She was so professional, talking about the pyramids and the other tombs around there. She was gentle, wearing white covering clothes and he was all over her, flirting in front of the camera….As we love Egypt stories as a family we were sitting there and after a while my father asked: “Is he hitting on her or I am seeing things????”….It was so embarrassing and distracting. And the poor woman trying to stay there with dignity and a straight face while he complimented her..i swear if the camera were not rolling he would have jumped on her. So, as much as i believe that she may be a diva, he hit the journalist shamelessly on MY documentary and didn’t seem to be bothered to be professional and do his work there.
She on the other hand is told to behave like that, it’s her thing….DO NOT ENGAGE WITH STRANGE PEOPLE….that’s how the celebrities can construct their persona.

Probably because Hawass gave another interview about it to get more publicity and make his star shine more brightly. The guy’s a piece of work; check his wiki! he’s just as much of a diva as Beyonce, which is probably why they clashed. Still, I love this story and I totally believe it. Hawass had to be the biggest diva around, he could not handle another one at HIS pyramids.

It certainly rings true, particularly the part about Beyonce not saying a word but letting her staff be rude on her behalf. She has this rep as one of the politest celebs, but it’s only because she always has other people do her dirty work.

I went to Egypt a few years ago and they are really strict when it comes to visiting monuments and temples and etc. I don’t blame them at all, because there are idiots out there who still try to climb the pyramids or who want to scratch their names into a 4000 year old wall…so yes, I can sort of believe that Hawass would have kicked Beyonce off the tour.

Because that’s the only thing they can get offended about in this post. Because she was a woman and he was a man. Certainly not because Beyonce has her head up her ass so far that she believes she’s truly important in the grand scheme of things that is life. Certainly not that.

I traveled through Egypt about twenty years ago with another young woman. Even though we stayed in the top hotels we were treated horribly because we were two women traveling along. We were sneered at while dining at top restaurants, openly insulted and dragged out of bed in the middle of the night for some trumped up “passport problem”– this last at Cairo’s most expensive hotel.
There was a great deal of insinuation that we were prostitutes though we were always dressed modestly.I would never go there again but it’s ridiculous to say that they do not have a bias against women, not least powerful women.

It isn’t a huge stretch to believe this to be honest. This was a woman who tried to get unflattering photos at the Superbowl deleted from the internet so I could well believe that she had issue with another photographer not sanctioned by her being there.

I also believe the bit about her not speaking. I’ll never forget that video of her being confronted by PETA (who I dislike but not the point) at dinner about her fur use in clothes. They were, for once, polite and non confrontational, and she just sat there like a puppet. Given that she paints herself as this strong woman, you’d imagine she could have had an intelligent and grown up discussion with them…

Well, the PETA part I understand, bc there’s no way to engage in that debate and win. I wear fur (and love it) but there’s no way I can come up with a coherent defense of that choice that doesnt make me look like a grade A @sshole.

But being rude and disrespectful to a private person for no good reason? Or The War on the Internets? Obnoxious.

I’m with Anna on the PETA thing. I don’t think you’re obligated to speak with everyone who starts up with you – especially when that party has an agenda and you know no matter what you say, there is nothing you can say to change their mind (and nothing they can say that will change your mind).

Regarding the Internet censorship and the pyramid visit, those are just unnecessarily rude and/or ridiculous.

No I agree with you on the PETA thing and also on the not being able to change someone’s mind on the fur debate (to be honest Anna, if she had said what you said above, I’d have respected her). In a way this could be applied to anything, I found her reaction to be odd considering the image of a strong woman she portrays. she sat there open mouthed looking around for someone to either deal with it or tell her what to do. She didn’t even get up right away, she just sat there looking around. It gave me the impression of what I think she is really like, that when she hasn’t got a script or a rehearsed answer, or an adviser telling her what she should say she flounders.

She’s looking rough in these photos. I totally believe this story and it reminds me if Rihanna’s photo shoot at a mosque a little while back. These divas might be able to have their way on American soil, but no one should expect to get a break for bad behavior in the Middle East, especially if you’re a woman.

Sure – but you’ll never hear about them on a gossip site – they don’t do anything exciting enough for us to comment about. The relationships which get all the attention exist specifically for that purpose. The majority of relationships you read about on gossip sites are PR fabricated, or couples that remain together because they have more star power together than apart – like these two. This is nothing new BTW – been going on since the beginning of Hollywood.

Up until he got fired Zahi Hawass was THE guy for Egyptian antiquities. He was a the head of the entire department, the guy that decided what things went on exhibit and how to prosecute things that were stolen from the country (Egypt has super strict cultural patrimony laws) I 100% believe him-he’s done similar things to other big name celebrities.

This story is old so why does he keep bringing her up? When I first read this story years ago he said that Beyonce wasn’t interested in learning about the pyramids or their history. He is just upset because she didn’t speak to him. I’m sorry, she doesn’t owe him anything by showing up and taking pics and not wanting to have a conversation with him. Anything that is needed to know about the pyramids are an internet click away.

Like someone said below, this guy is a big deal in Egyptology. So if she summoned him to give her a tour of the pyramids, she should either be on time or apologize for being late. It’s just human decency.

And, did you seriously just say that anything that is needed to know about the pyramids is an internet click away?! Please turn off your computer and go outside and enjoy nature. Please. I implore you. You are just… wrong.

Hawass was cozy with the old regime, as were many senior officials, so he did lose his job with the Antiquities Service in the aftermath of the uprising. No surprise there. His post, while technically not political, was in fact quite political. As for allegations of corruption, I find that hard to believe. He is one of the most visible archeaologists on the planet, certainly the most visible in Egypt, and he campaigned tirelessly on behalf of Egyptians to have their stolen artefacts repatriated (most notably the famous Nefertiti bust stolen by the Germans many years ago and now on dislay in Berlin). Hawass has been accused of being a “fame whore” and of being more entertainer than scholar, courting the likes of Discovery and National Geographic and getting himself on television, but these antics have brought a lot of publicity and FUNDING and tourist dollars to the monuments of Egypt, which goes toward conservation and helping the local economy. Being at the pinnacle of an egyptology career, I find it laughable that anyone would think he needs to trash the ephemeral likes of Beyonce in order to bring notoriety to himself. Really not necessary. He has also been accused of bullying other Egyptologists (notably Joanne Fletcher after her ill-fated and most likely false identification of a mummy as the famoust Nefertiti), but this is the sort of vicious in-fighting that often takes place in academia, and Hawass is certainly not the first nor the last to engage in such antics. There is much to criticize in Hawass, but corruption is probably a stretch. Also, if he says this happened, I completely believe him. I don’t know of any credible allegation that he is a liar.

Isn’t Hawass the archaeologist that took credit for a bunch of other peoples’ findings? Isn’t he the man who carelessly mishandled rare pieces by not using gloves, etc, inflicting irreparable damage on many priceless artifacts?
From what I know of him, he’s a very arrogant man who has been rewriting Egyptian history for quite some time now.

Eh. I think this is just a case of clashing egos…not a Beyoncé fan myself but I’m surprised that people are putting this guy up on a pedestal…

Anyone who is interested in Egypt has heard of this guy, he’s a big deal in Egyptology, and probably a bit of a diva himself. I’m not sure he would really have the authority to kick her out of the pyramid area, but to refuse to give her a tour? Sure. I find it pretty funny, because someone would have had to pull strings to get him to give a tour.

Totally believe it.
I´m an archaeologist and worked some time in Egypt. Good manners and friendliness are very important! Respect them and they respect you.
Especially with Hawass. He has the power over all the antiquites and sites. If you want access you have to play his game. Means you have to kiss his ass! Don´t mess with Hawass or you can go home.

Don´t get me wrong he´s no bad person, but he is all ego. Zahi Hawass has a strong god complex.
His work is controversial and a lot of people laugh about him and his attitudes. This guy loves to play guide for statesmen and celebs. Hawass really loves the cameras and the attention. He gives interview after interview… every excuse for an interview is welcome. But he would never lie about a meeting with a celebrity. He really loves celebs and photos with them… so Beyonce must have been a super diva.

I’m jealous of you susu, this story is old and when it first came out it was glossed over – the peasants can’t besmirch Queen Bey’s image or the fact that she’s a narcissistic uneducated dolt and flounders without a script.
I’m surprised Hawass isn’t better known in the US he’s a big deal in archealogy/Egyptology, I’m glad he put this overrated egotist in her place. To view the Pyramids of Giza as nothing more than a photo op is actually rather disgusting.

I’m jealous of SuSu and Kate. I should have continued with anthropology!!!!!

But I agree. You go to visit somewhere at a specified time with someone waiting for you and take your sweet time? I’d have told her to blow chunks too. One of my pet peeves is people who don’t respect others’ space and time.

I do believe this. She does seem uneducated and stupid a bit to me. She may be smart about her brand, making money, ect. but she doesn’t seem to be the brightest bulb about true life. I mean the woman has her on personal photographer(!), her brain is all about her, her image, me me me,that’s all she thinks of.

Hahaha! Bey, meet Hawass, a diva to beat even your divaness! I personally like him and doubt he’s guilty of antiquities dealing since he’s always been about keeping Egyptian antiquities in Egypt (which I agree with, btw)–but I do know he was on the wrong side politically in the recent rebellion. But yeah, though I like him, his ego yearns to be the face of Egyptian archeology. And I’m okay with that, frankly.

I think he pretty much still is to many, but he did lose his position due to the old regime falling. So, officially he isn’t over the antiquities division anymore, but I wouldn’t count him out at all for future reference.

Team Beyonce on this one. That guy is a misogynistic, self obsessed criminal piece of s—. How rude of him to demand an apology like he’s speaking to a kindergartner, and WHY does a tour guide need a photographer? He ruined every show on Egypt when he had his Director of Antiquities job by being the quintessential camera whore. He makes B look camera shy by comparison.
I also wonder how he has the power to “ban” her from the pyramids. It sounds like he is just a sad little tour guide now.

He’s hardly a criminal. Ego driven and wildly successful in his career but NOT a criminal. It was probably more than being late and the photograph. She travels w/a team of handlers. If she stood there like a stone and ignored him after introductions and being late, I can see his getting pissed. Hawass is a brilliant archeologist and I think the vast majority of people, famous or otherwise, would be beyond thrilled to have him lead a tour.

She may be a great performer but she’s dumb as a stump and can be rude when there’s no need for it.

Also, if it was just a photo op, and one she was late for at that, I can understand Hawass losing it over not only being kept waiting but to then find out the celeb in question isn’t really interested at all…yeah, I’d lose it, too.

Yep. That sounds like Beyoncé alright! Good on that guy for standing up to rude celebrities, I’m sure she thought they would move everything to fit her schedule and kiss her @ss. Girl got shut down…love it!

Ugh!!! 2 people I cannot stand but i do believe this story. Hawass is a complete twat and it’s all about him. I especially despise his methods of attempting to get Egyptian artefacts back into Egypt (which, as someone who works in museums and archaeology, I disagree with) is stamping throwing a tantrum like a child.

Dr. Hawass is a legendary Egyptologist. He has a great passion for Egyptology. It seems as if Beyonce hasn’t a clue about how prominent this gentleman is. I’d give my right arm for this man to give me a tour or anything in Egypt and would respect him all the way.

I don’t see why Hawass needed to bring a photographer with him, but that’s how he is, a closet media whore.
His fame is directly related to the way he micromanaged all the antiquities. There are many academics who can’t stand him.